Supervision

After the employees have been instructed regarding what they have to do and how to do, it is the duty of the manager to see that they perform the work as per instructions. This is known as supervision.

Managers play the role of supervisors and ensure that the work is done as per the instructions and the plans. Supervisors clarify all instructions and guide employees to work as a team in co-operation with others. Supervisors solve most of the routine job-related problems of subordinates. Thus, supervisor performs the following functions:

1. Clarifies orders and instructions issued to subordinates and ensures that they have understand and follow these fully

2. Ensures that subordinates have the required facilities to perform their jobs

3. Keeps a watch and guides the activities of subordinates in performing their jobs

4. Broadens the horizon of his subordinates by making them aware of the wider aspects of their day-to-day work

5. Coordinates the work of different subordinates under him

6. Detects errors and omissions and ensures their rectification

Though supervision is required at all levels of management, it is of great importance at the operational level i.e., at the level of first line supervisor. Managers at this level devote maximum time in supervising the work of subordinates. Though the top or middle level managers also supervise the work of their subordinate managers, but it is the first line supervisors who are in direct and constant touch with operatives i.e., workers in the factory and clerical staff in the office. Thus, they are directly responsible for getting the work done through most of the employees in an organisation.

Importance of Supervision

Supervision is of great significance in getting the work done as per plans and as scheduled. On the basis of the influence on the work at operational level and human approach to the problems of workers, the supervision can ensure workers cooperation and support in achieving organisational objectives.

Supervisors are the key people among managers at different levels. They are the link between the top and middle management and the workers. For example, the foreman of the factory or the office superintendent in the office. Both of them are members of the management team, and are in direct contact with operatives in the workshop and clerical staff in the office. They are the mouthpiece of management for communicating its ideas, plans and policies to the workers and employees. At the same time, they have to play the role of principal spokesmen of their subordinates to communicate their feelings and grievances to the management.

Thus, it is only the supervisor who, as a member of the management team, is capable of developing links to workers. Supervisors are expected to maintain the best and friendly relations with their seniors as well as with the workers and enjoy the trust and confidence of both management and operatives.

Functions of a Supervisor

A supervisor works at the lowest level of management like all other managers he performs the functions of planning, organising, directing and controlling with respect to his own subordinates and department. A major part of his time is devoted in directing and controlling the activities of his subordinates. He also coordinates the activities of his subordinates by integrating the same with the activities of other departments of the enterprise. Besides he performs certain special functions:

1. Link Between Top Management and Workers: A supervisor works as a link between managers working at higher levels and workers. He conveys the decision of the higher level managers to the workers and also communicates the performance of the workers to the higher level management through different performance reports. He also communicates the grievances, feelings of demands, etc. of the workers to the higher level management.

2. Creating Ideal Atmosphere: Being an important link between the operatives and the management a supervisor is expected to create an ideal atmosphere for work in the organisation by correctly communicating the ideas, wishes and decisions of the higher level management to the workers.

3. Guiding the Workers: For obtaining best results the supervisor assigns jobs to the workers keeping in mind their ability and aptitude for work. He makes them available the necessary tools and equipments, raw materials etc. for proper execution of the jobs. He also guides the worker properly to ensure that the job is done with perfection and accuracy.

4. Quality Output: A supervisor has to ensure quality output through constant watch on the performance of workers. He ensures that the performance of the worker takes place as per the plans. This results into study flow of output.

5. Feedback: A supervisor keeps on watching the performance of his subordinates and identifies their strengths and weaknesses. He gives the feedback about this to the workers with the object to further improve the performance of the workers in future.

6. Suggest Training Programmes: A supervisor identifies the areas in which the workers require training and accordingly suggests training programmes that should be organised for them.